Cross Country Road Trip

We are taking our family across the US this summer from Virginia to northern California. We hope the road trip will help our kids appreciate the sights. What are the MUST SEE places to visit along the way and the ones to AVOID? — Drivin’ Mama

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About Rose

State:VACountry:USAAbout Me:I am a homeschooling mother of nine (6 boys, 3 girls) and grandmother to 6. By day I'm a web developer and on weekends I'm a vocalist singing for churches and weddings. I've been published in several magazines, writing mostly on family dynamics and problem-solving in relationships.Web site:rosebowen.comBrief Bio:Rose is a writer, web developer, and Christian vocalist who's homeschooled 9 kids and a couple of grandkids and enjoys life in the Blue Ridge in a county with only one traffic light.

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I love I-40 but that might be too far south for you to get to Northern CA. Be sure to find hot springs and a NAtive American reservation along the way. Create a road-trip scavenger hunt for your kids of things to find along the trip.

We loved Route 66 going through the small towns of the midwest and western US on the south end of our trip. We took the north across and the south back home so we could see more. Painted desert and petrified forest were two favorites, and Williams, Arizona for a wonderful town to stop in overnight so you can catch the sunrise at the Grand Canyon.

While not the most nutritious or educational stop, the Jelly Belly factory in between San Francisco and Sacramento is a great stop for the kids. The tour is not long and they will love checking out the Belly Flops in the factory shop.